A crown court judge said it is “concerning” that the new Wrexham prison has been built in such a way that people can get close enough to the perimeter fence that they can allegedly throw items in.

Judge Rhys Rowlands, sitting at Mold Crown Court, said it was also of concern that that it was covered by CCTV which was not of sufficient quality to enable people to be identified.

The judge was speaking as he adjourned the case of a Liverpool man charged with throwing prohibited items towards The Bala Wing at HMP Berwyn in Wrexham.

Defendant Rhys Robert Jones 18, of Greyhound Park Road in Speke, pleaded not guilty to two charges of throwing prohibited items – a quantity of spice, a class B drug, and two mobile phones – into the prison on May 26.

He is alleged to have been one of two people – the second was not identified – wearing hoods outside the prison.